Double Major Feast of Saint Peter's Chains with a commemoration of St. Paul Apostle and the Holy Macchabees, Martyrs.

WHITE Vestments

Missa "Nunc scio vere"

Today is the Feast of Saint Peter's Chains. The chains with which Peter the Apostle was fettered from time to time have always been the object of veneration among the faithful. They are preserved in a basilica in Rome, which is called Saint Peter ad Vincula (in chains). The anniversary of the dedication of this church falls on August
1st. The chains of the Apostle Paul are preserved in the Basilica of St. Paul. The reverence shown to the chains of the two apostles must have been very widely spread in olden times from the moment when Justinian I asked the
Pope for "a portion of the chains of the holy apostles, if it were possible" and Pope St. Gregory the Great relates that in his day the faithful were eagerly desirous of the favor of possessing at least a small quantity of the filings
of St. Paul's chains. The chains of St. Peter are in two portions, one having eleven links, shaped so as to hold the hands, and the other twenty-three links, at the end of which are two half circles to hold the neck. Only four links are preserved of the chains which bound St. Paul.

Today is also the feast of the Holy Machabees, Martyrs
The Seven Machabees, brothers, and other Jews, suffered martyrdom for their faith in the second century before Christ, under the tyrant Antiochus
Epiphanes, the impious king of Syria. They are the only martyrs who suffered before Christ that are honored with a feast of universal observance. Their relics were placed in the church of St. Peter's Chains beneath the new altar on August 1st.

Resources: We are grateful to Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for providing the Propers for the faithful. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

Now I know in very deed, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. (Ps. 138: 1, 2) Lord, Thou hast proved me, and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. RepeatNow I know in very deed...

O God, Who didst cause blessed Peter, the apostle, to depart, loosed from his chains and unhurt, loose, we beseech Thee, the chains of our sins, and
graciously keep all evils far from us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.R.Amen.

Commemoration Collect for St. Paul the Apostle

Let us pray. God, Who didst teach the multitude of the gentiles by the preaching of blessed Paul the apostle, grant us, we beseech Thee, that we, who observe his commemoration, may experience the fruits of his patronal
influence with Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.R.Amen.

Commemoration Collect for the Holy Machabees

Let us pray. May the fruits of the fraternal crown of Thy martyrs, O Lord, make us joyful, both to afford our faith increase of virtues and to console us with their manifold prayers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.R.Amen.

Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles. In those days, Herod the king
stretched forth his hands to afflict some of the Church: and he killed
James, the brother of John, with the sword; and seeing that it pleased the
Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the
Azymes: and when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering
him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending after the pasch to bring
him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was
made without ceasing by the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would
have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two
soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the door kept the
prison: and behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in
the room and he striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying, Arise
quickly; and the chains fell off from his hands: and the angel said to him,
Gird, thyself and put on thy sandals; and he did so: and he said to him,
Cast thy garment about thee and follow me: and going out he followed him:
and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but he thought
he saw a vision. And passing through the first and the second ward, they
came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to
them; and going out, they passed on through one street, and immediately the
angel departed from him. And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know in
very deed that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of
the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
S. Thanks be to God.
Thanks be to God.

Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember Thy name, O Lord. V. Instead of Thy fathers, sons are born to Thee; therefore shall people praise Thee.
Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Matt 16: 18.) Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia.

The Lord be with you.R. And with thy spirit. The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew. R. Glory to Thee, O Lord

At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Cæsarea Philippi, and He asked His disciples, saying, " "Whom do men say that the Son of man is?" But they said, Some, John the Baptist, and other some, Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them, "But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him, "Blessed art thou, Simon BarJona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My
Father Who is in Heaven: and I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven."Praise be to Christ

May the sacrifice offered to Thee, O Lord, the intercession of blessed Peter ever vivify and strengthen us.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.R.Amen.

Secret Commemoration for St. Paul the Apostle

Sanctify the gifts of Thy people, 0 Lord, through the prayers of Paul, Thine apostle, that what is pleasing to Thee by Thine own ordinance may become the
more pleasing by the patronal influence of his supplication.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.R.Amen.

Secret Commemoration for the Holy Machabees

May we devoutly deal with Thy mysteries, O Lord, for the honor of Thy holy martyrs, and by them may both protection and joy be increased unto us.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.R.Amen.

The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts.R.We have lifted them up to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is meet and just.
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd; but, through Thy blessed apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dóminations and with all the hosts of the Heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.Let us pray. Filled with the sacrificial food of Thy sacred body and precious blood, we beseech Thee. 0 Lord, our God, that what we perform in pious devotion we may
effectually obtain in assured redernption. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.

Postcommunion Commemoration for St. Paul the Apostle

Let us pray. Having received Thy sacraments, O Lord, we beseech Thee, by the intercession of blessed Paul, Thine apostle, that what has been celebrated for his glory
may profit unto our healing. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.

Postcommunion Commemoration for the Holy Machabees

Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we may more and more closely follow the faith of those whose memory we venerate in partaking of Thy
sacrament. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.